What’s the deal with the Peaceful People?

These “Peaceful People” were a surprise birthday present for Laura Dimler, from her parents. They can be seen on the northwest corner of the roundabout at Highways 7 and 10, halfway between Waconia and Watertown.

Anybody who has driven through the roundabout at the intersection of Highways 10 and 7 in the last couple months has undoubtedly noticed the display of scarecrows in the field on the northwest corner.

Most people, though, probably have no idea as to the story behind it.

According to Laura Dimler, who maintains a 10-acre CSA on her family’s land at that spot, the scarecrows were placed there as a birthday surprise by her parents. She said her parents spent three days creating 25 scarecrows for the display, all without her knowledge.

Dimler so enjoyed the result, though, that she ended up creating 25 more. Dimler held a harvest party for the members of her CSA, which included a scarecrow contest in which each member spent about 2 hours creating a themed scarecrow. Some of the themes include a football player, farmer, dancer, and others.

As for the significance of the term Peaceful People? Dimler said there really is no special message -— it’s simply a longstanding reference to gentle and peaceful nature of a scarecrow, which looks like a person but doesn’t move or make any noise. They simply sit peacefully in the field.

Dimler’s CSA, called The Pampered Pumpkin, recently finished it’s three-year transition to become fully certified organic. Dimler said her 10 acres of the family farm reached that milestone in October, but she is still working on filling out the paperwork. She expects to be fully certified organic — meaning no fertilizers or chemicals have been used on the field in the last 3 years -— by next growing season.

Dimler, who offered 37 shares in her CSA last year, has long had an interest in promoting sustainable farming methods.